DMK will win more than 200 seats in 2026 elections: Tamil Nadu CM Stalin

DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Saturday (January 10, 2026) that he was confident that his party would win more than 200 seats in the upcoming Assembly election in the State.

Addressing DMK party workers at the Pongal celebrations in Perambur, Mr. Stalin said that in the last four-and-a-half years, the Dravidian Model government had implemented several schemes. “You must explain all those schemes to the people. You have already completed 50% of the work that needs to be done for the 2026 Assembly election,” he said.

“Today, people belonging to various political parties, even those in the BJP, are saying that no one can work like the DMK cadre. I had earlier said that we would win at least 200 seats. Now, looking at the work our party has done on the ground, I am confident that we will cross even 200 seats,” he said.

He also extended Pongal greetings to the people of Tamil Nadu. Earlier, Mr. Stalin participated in the Pongal celebrations organised by Anitha Achievers Academy in Jawahar Nagar. He also distributed Pongal gift kits to 3,725 students of the academy.

At Pulianthope, Mr. Stalin distributed Pongal gift kits to 1,300 conservancy workers and had lunch with them. Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P.K. Sekarbabu, Chennai North MP Kalanidhi Veerasamy, and Greater Chennai Corporation Mayor R. Priya were among those present.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Stalin said the State government would organise a series of programmes as part of Thirukkural Vaara Vizha (Thirukkural Week celebrations) this month.

During the silver jubilee celebrations of the unveiling of the 133-ft statue of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar in Kanniyakumari, held on December 31, 2024, and January 1, 2025, Mr. Stalin announced that the government would organise a series of programmes on the Thirukkuralin January every year. The statue was unveiled by former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on January 1, 2000.

In a post on X, Mr. Stalin said Thirukkural recitation, painting, musical performances, seminars, drama, quiz programmes, and conferences would be held in various districts, with the participation of students, teachers, and members of the public. These programmes will be organised by the Department of Tamil Development.

AThirukkuraland classical Tamil music festival will be held at the Marina in Chennai on Sunday, while the ‘Kuralasiriyar’ conference and quiz programmes will be held on January 21 in Tiruppur.

On January 23 and 24, a ‘Thirukkural Students Conference’ will be held in Kanniyakumari, with the participation of more than 1,500 students.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin participated in Pongal celebrations held in Chennai and distributed festival gift kits to 1,300 conservancy workers